Speaking at a farmers‘ convention in D.I. Khan, Prime Minister Imran Khan displayed concern about the sharp rise in the country’s population. As he rightly put it, If the population was allowed to grow at the current pace, Pakistan may face issues of hunger and poverty. According to Mr Khan, the country needs to focus on primary education and basic health to stop the population from growing astronomically. While the realisation has come after three years in power, it needs to be welcomed.
There has been a nearly sevenfold increase in Pakistan’s population since independence, while every year there is an addition of some 4 to 5 million people to the count which is equivalent to the entire population of New Zealand. While South Asia has an alarmingly high growth rate, Afghanistan and Pakistan are identified as having the fastest growing populations in the region.
It was under Ayub Khan that significant measures were taken for population control. Bhutto became growingly wary of annoying the religious lobby and failed to take a stand on family planning. Soon after assuming power Ziaul Haq froze the population programme. Later he believed that a large population was needed to continue the jihad against the USSR. Since then week-kneed ruling parties have continued to avoid supporting family planning lest they annoy religious parties.
Strong political leaders in the Muslim world have managed to win the clergy over the need for family planning. In highly religious Bangladesh and Iran, as well as in Indonesia, family planning remains one of the top priorities. While in 1971 East Pakistan had larger population than West Pakistan, its demographic count now is 166,696,900 compared to Pakistan’s 226,132,000.
It is not enough for PM to stress the need for population control. What one expects from a leader in power are practical measures. The first is an all-embracing campaign to raise public awareness. The second is provision of funds for field workers. The PM could task some of his several spokespersons, currently blasting the opposition, to campaign in support of population control. He could ask Religious Affairs Minister Nurul Haq Qadi and PM’s Special Representative on Religious Harmony Tahir Ashrafi to seek endorsement for family planning from the clerics. The PM could inject funds in the family planning programme to enable lady health visitors to provide advice and whatever else is needed to women.
